Three things that are needed

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

I started the day playing trombone duets with Bob. He brought some music with extremely high notes to be  played in harmony. He said in order to play this music it requires three things: practice, practice and practice. I quipped to him, "what about chance"? He laughed. But, how many of us lack the discipline to do what is required of us? Instead of study and practice, we leave it to chance and call it spiritual.  Now I am in dangerous territory. The truth is  if we are in Christ we can do nothing apart from God's spirit. We receive a lot of grace, yes and even grace when we fail. In an earlier testimony I mentioned wasting a lot of time seeking the wrong goals. When we are on the right path, then it is a joy. We should not be slack and lazy in our walk with the LORD. The apostle Paul put all of his effort into bringing the gospel to the Gentiles. He had much success but also much pain and persecution. Can we stand the pain? the persecution? We must, if we are to stand for Jesus. Our pastor has related a message from Billy Graham on being successful as a Christian; pray, pray and pray. Then we can put to practice what we learn from God's word.

Rom 5:1  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 
Rom 5:2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 
Rom 5:3  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 
Rom 5:4  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 
Rom 5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.